By Eric Gilpin, president of Staffing & Recruiting Group at CareerBuilder
In the short time since the economic recession, America’s workforce has changed in many ways. Many workers have sought higher education and certifications, some have switched industries to try out new careers, while others have discovered the benefits of being a temporary or contract worker. These different paths are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they often intersect.
In recent years, temporary employment has not only accelerated, but new data
suggests its upward trajectory will continue throughout 2014. According
to CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl., more than 2.9
million U.S. workers were employed in temporary jobs in 2013, jumping
28 percent since 2010 and outpacing the 5 percent growth rate for all
jobs. This is a hiring trend that employers are embracing for a number of reasons.

The appeal of temporary workThe boom in temporary workers is neither a mystery nor an isolated
phenomenon. Companies want more flexibility in their respective
workforces to quickly ramp up and ramp down their businesses as needed.
Temporary workers provide that flexibility.
Temporary employment is growing across industries and metros, and the
benefits of this flexibility isn’t only for the employer. Temporary and
contract work provides great opportunities for workers to test-drive
different work experiences as they explore new industries, put their new
education and certifications into practice, and network with potential
employers. For job seekers looking to bring variety to their search or
those who may find a more compatible work life in temporary employment,
this hiring trend can be the next big step in a career.
In a separate CareerBuilder and Harris Poll study,
42 percent of employers reported that they plan to hire temporary or
contract workers in 2014, up from 40 percent last year. Of these
employers, two in five (43 percent) plan to transition some temporary
employees into full-time, permanent staff.

The fastest growersTo see how these business needs may align with a job seeker’s,
CareerBuilder and EMSI compiled a list of the fastest-growing
occupations and metros for temporary employment in 2014, using EMSI’s
extensive labor market database of over 90 national and state employment
resources.
First, top occupations for growth in temporary employment were
identified. Among occupations that pay in the middle-wage to high-wage
range and are expected to see the greatest percentage increase for
temporary job growth in 2014, are:

The top metropolitan areas for temp workersBesides these specific occupations that are seeing a boon in
temporary employment, there are metros across the country taking part in
the hiring trend. The metropolitan statistical areas that employed at
least 20,000 temporary workers in 2013 and are projected to have the
greatest percentage increase for temporary job growth in 2014 are:

As this wide range of occupations and metros indicates, there are
plenty of benefits to temporary employment, and job seekers will have
many opportunities to share the rewards in this growing market.Erik Gilpin is president of CareerBuilder’s Staffing & Recruiting Group.1 Median earnings per hour covers anyone working in that occupation whether they are temporary or full-time, permanent staff2 Full category name as defined by the BLS is Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

3Sales Representatives, Services, All Other is a
catch-all category that includes sales professionals who are not
assigned to a specific category such as Insurance Sales Agents

Everybody sells and these 9 jobs require good sales skills

When you think of a sales job, you may automatically picture someone
selling a physical product. And while many sales roles do look like
that, being a good sales person can get you far in a variety of careers.

In fact, many jobs have some element of sales or selling to it, whether
it's completely obvious or more subtle. Some jobs may require selling
something to an external client, while others may entail selling a
project or idea to an internal stakeholder.

Even a job that has nothing to do with sales may still require a little
selling on your part - selling the reasons why you deserve that raise or
promotion during your annual performance review.

Important qualities in sales
While having the right education and experience is important when
pursuing sales-related roles, many people in sales rely on their soft skills to help them succeed at their job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the qualities good sales workers possess include:

Sales-related jobs
There are certain roles where having strong sales skills
can be an advantage. These roles may not all overtly scream "sales,"
but the skills needed to work in sales are the same or similar to the
skills required for these roles. If you have a sales background but want
to cast a wider net in your job search, consider these 9 jobs* where
sales skills can be transferable:

1.Customer service representatives
handle customer complaints, process orders and provide information
about an organization's products and services. Although selling is not
their main job, some representatives may help to generate sales leads
while providing information about a product or service.

2. Fundraisers
organize events and campaigns to raise money and other donations for an
organization. They may design promotional materials and increase
awareness of an organization's work, goals and financial needs. Typical
duties include researching prospective donors, creating a strong
fundraising message that appeals to potential donors, identifying and
contacting potential donors and organizing a campaign or event that will
lead to soliciting donations.

3. Lawyers
advise and represent individuals, businesses and government agencies on
legal issues and disputes. They communicate with their clients and
others and present facts in writing and verbally to their clients or
others and argue on their behalf.

4. Models
pose for artists, photographers or customers to help advertise a
variety of products, including clothing, cosmetics, food and appliances.
Duties typically include displaying clothing and merchandise in print
and online advertisements; promoting products and services in television
commercials; working closely with photographers, hair and clothing
stylists, makeup artists and clients to produce a desired look; and
creating and maintaining a portfolio of their work.

5. Personal financial advisers
give financial advice to people. They help with investments, taxes and
insurance decisions. Many personal financial advisers spend a lot of
time marketing their services, and they meet potential clients by giving
seminars or through business and social networking.

6.Public relations specialists
create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they
represent. They design media releases to shape public perception of
their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.

7. Recruiters
find, screen and interview applicants for job openings in an
organization. They search for applicants by posting listings, attending
job fairs and visiting college campuses. They also may test applicants,
contact references and extend job offers.

8.Scouts
look for new players, evaluating their skills and likelihood for
success at the college, amateur or professional level. In this role,
scouts usually read newspapers and other news sources to find athletes
to consider; attend games, view videotapes of the athletes' performances
and study statistics about the athletes to determine talent and
potential; talk to the athlete and the coaches to see if the athlete has
what it takes to succeed; and arrange for and offer incentives to
prospective players.

By Debra Auerbach
When driving down the freeway, you’ll often pass trucks hauling
various types of cargo. You may wonder what it takes to keep such
high-powered machines running so they’re able to deliver their cargo on
time and intact, no matter the distance. While it’s the driver who gets
the truck from point A to point B, it’s the job of diesel service technicians and mechanics
to make sure the ride goes off without a hitch. If the idea of working
behind the scenes to help power diesel machines sounds interesting to
you, read on to learn more about a career in diesel mechanics and
technology.Working as a diesel service mechanic and technician
If a vehicle has a diesel engine, diesel service mechanics and
technicians are called upon to keep it in tip top shape. These workers
are responsible for inspecting, repairing or overhauling buses, trucks,
bulldozers, cranes and anything else with a diesel engine.*
Some of their daily tasks may include:

Test driving vehicles to diagnose malfunctions and ensure that they are running smoothly

Repairing or replacing faulty parts and other mechanical or electrical equipment

Using technology
Today, diesel mechanics and technicians need to use more than their
hands to fix these powerful machines. Their jobs are becoming
increasingly complex as engines and other components are being powered
and controlled by electronic systems. For example, fuel injection and
engine timing systems use microprocessors to maximize fuel efficiency
and minimize harmful emissions. Workers often use computers to diagnose
problems and adjust engine functions. Those interested in entering this
field will need to learn not only how to use hand and high-powered
tools, but also computer systems that are essential to engine operation.Entering the field
While many diesel mechanics and technicians learn their trade on the
job, many employers require at least a high-school diploma or
equivalent. In fact, according to Economic Modeling Specialists Intl.,
49 percent of workers in this field have attained a high-school or
similar level of education. Increasingly, employers are attracted to
workers who also have postsecondary training in an area such as diesel
engine repair.
Workers may also earn a certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Although obtaining a certification isn’t required to work in this
field, it increases a diesel mechanic’s value to employers and clients.
To earn certification, mechanics must have at least two years of work
experience and pass one or more ASE exams. To remain certified, they
must take and pass the test again every five years.Diesel mechanics and technicians – by the numbers

Employment growth: The occupation is
projected to grow steadily over the next couple of years. According to
EMSI, 239,666 workers are employed as bus and truck mechanics and diesel
engine specialists today. By 2016, the occupation will grow by 2.1
percent, to 244,664.

Educational programs: In 2012, 9,294
people graduated with a degree in a program related to this occupation,
according to EMSI. Eight thousand, six hundred and thirty four graduated
from a Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician program, while 660
graduates took part in a Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck
Technology/Technician program.

These jobs can earn up to $112 hourly

"The growth is a clear indicator of a transition of work online," says Fabio Rosati, CEO of Elance-oDesk.

The company's platform - which serves as a broker between companies that
need skills and freelancers eager to supply them - sees 2.7 million
freelance jobs posted a year. According to Elance-oDesk, the total
earnings of freelancers have grown 50% compounded annually over the past
five years.

From Rosati's perspective, so many businesses are hiring these workers
because they need work done on demand, typically for a short stint. In
those cases, a marketplace like Elance-oDesk becomes like the Amazon
Prime for jobs. It's a win for both the employer, who can hire on an
as-needed basis, and for the worker, who has flexibility of schedule and
location.

What's more, freelancers with the right skills can earn a great living
from the comfort of their homes, if the highest-paying freelance jobs
are any indicator.

The wage numbers below come from the combined databases of Elance.com and oDesk.com, pulling from Jan. 1 to May 31 of this year.

People, goods and raw materials rarely stay in one place for long. To
coordinate those transportation needs, we turn to the industry of
logistics, materials and supply chain management to keep a global
economy and the people within it moving.
According to an Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. 2014.2 Class of
Worker dataset, the logistics, materials and supply chain management
industry is responsible for a lot: managing and coordinating all
logistical functions in an enterprise — ranging from acquisitions to
receiving and handling, through internal allocation of resources to
operations units, to the handling and delivery of output. It also
includes instruction in acquisitions and purchasing, inventory control,
storage and handling, just-in-time manufacturing, logistics planning,
shipping and delivery management, transportation, quality control,
resource estimation and allocation and budgeting.
Suffice to say, those who work in logistics have a very strong set of
skills, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics elaborates on:

Important qualities for logistics

Interpersonal skills

Leadership skills

Problem-solving skills

Time-management skills

Customer-service skills

Hand-eye coordination

Math skills

Patience

Sales skills

Speaking ability

Visual ability

Communication skills

Concentration skills

Decision-making skills

Organizational skills

Critical-thinking skills

Alertness

Dexterity

Mechanical skills

Visual ability

And to apply those skills, consider any of these 12 related positions within the industry:1. Industrial production managers* oversee
the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They
coordinate, plan and direct the activities used to create a wide range
of goods, such as cars, computer equipment or paper products.2. Air traffic controllerscoordinate
the movement of air traffic, to ensure that aircraft stay safe
distances apart. Among their responsibilities, air traffic controllers
typically issue landing and takeoff instructions to pilots and monitor
and direct the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air, using
radar, computers or visual references.3. Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workerspick
up, transport and drop off packages and small shipments within a local
region or urban area. They drive trucks with a gross vehicle weight —
the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers and cargo — of 26,000
pounds or less. Most of the time, delivery truck drivers transport
merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households.4. Logisticiansanalyze
and coordinate an organization’s supply chain — the system that moves a
product from supplier to consumer. They manage the entire life cycle of
a product, which includes how a product is acquired, distributed,
allocated and delivered.5. Material moving machine operatorsuse
machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move
construction materials around building sites or the land around a mine.
Others move goods around a warehouse or onto container ships.6. Industrial truck and tractor operatorsdrive
trucks and tractors that move materials around warehouses, storage
yards or worksites. These trucks, often called forklifts, have a lifting
mechanism and forks, which makes them useful for moving heavy and large
objects. Some industrial truck and tractor operators drive tractors
that pull trailers loaded with material around factories or storage
areas.7. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operatorsuse
machines equipped with scoops or shovels. They dig sand, earth or other
materials and load them onto conveyors or into trucks for transport
elsewhere. They also may move material within a confined area, such as a
construction site. Operators typically receive instructions from
workers on the ground through hand signals or radios. Most of these
operators work in construction or mining industries.8. Dredge operatorsexcavate
waterways. They operate equipment on the water to remove sand, gravel
or rock from harbors or lakes to help prevent erosion and improve trade.
Removing these materials helps maintain navigable waterways and allows
larger ships to use more ports. Operators also measure the water depth,
as well as how much they will be excavating. Dredging is also used to
help restore wetlands and maintain beaches.9. Crane and tower operatorsuse
tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machinery or
other heavy objects. Operators extend and retract horizontal arms and
lower and raise hooks attached to cables at the end of their crane or
tower. Operators are usually guided by other workers on the ground using
hand signals or a radio. Most crane and tower operators work at
construction sites or major ports, where they load and unload cargo.
Some also work in iron and steel mills.10. Hoist and winch operators, also
called derrick operators or hydraulic boom operators, control the
movement of platforms, cables and cages that transport workers or
materials for industrial operations, such as constructing a high-rise
building. Many of these operators raise platforms far above the ground.
Operators regulate the speed of the equipment based on the needs of the
workers. Most work in manufacturing or construction industries.11. Conveyor operators and tenderscontrol
conveyor systems that move materials on an automatic belt. They move
materials to and from places such as building sites, storage areas and
vehicles. They monitor sensors on the conveyor to regulate the speed
with which the conveyor belt moves. Operators may determine the route
materials take along a conveyor based on shipping orders.

12. Locomotive engineersdrive
freight or passenger trains between stations. They drive long-distance
trains and commuter trains, but not subway trains. Most locomotive
engineers drive diesel-electric engines, although some drive locomotives
powered by battery or electricity.

Summer has arrived, and with it, plenty of job opportunities for
those interested in temporary and permanent positions, both full-time
and part-time.
And while you may be tempted to soak up the sun or hit the road for
summer fun, don’t let your job search wither away. Even casual searching
is still progress, and CareerBuilder tools like our mobile site
or tablet site have been optimized to give your screen the best results
to power your job search forward. In fact, check out these insider tricks and tools for applying to a position using a mobile device. You may find yourself more productive poolside than inside.